Golf club



Dec. 24, l940. w. R. MOQRE, JR

GOLF CLUB Filed June 1'7, 19258 i ih:

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Patented Dec. 24, 1940 PATENT OFFICE GOLF CLUB William R. Moore,

Application June 17,

3 Claims.

4'Ihis invention relates to improvementsin golf clubs and particularlyto those clubs used in the short game or in and around the puttinggreen. In the putting stroke, which differs materially from otherstrokes in the game of golf, the club is grasped by the left hand(assuming that the vplayer is right-handed) and is usually swung with apendulum action, the left hand acting as a pivot allowing the club headto swing freely back and forth and the right hand assisting insupporting and guiding the putter. However, due in a large part to thefact that the two hands cannot remain at exactly the center of the pivotwithout shifting the right-hand or skillfully manipulating the wrist asthe club moves through, there is a tendency for the right hand to rollover or under during the stroke, thereby opening or closing the clubhead at the time of impact. Thus with the conventional putter, a 3 morenearly perfect stroke could be arrived at by the use of the left handalone, assuming the average player had sufficient strength in the leftwrist to wield and simultaneously guide the club, since this wouldpermit the club face to more readilyfollow through in a direction atright angles to a line between the ball and the center of the cup'. Infact, it is known that certain players are more successful with a singlehanded putter than with a two handed club. However, "O in most instancesthe right handis required, and the use of this hand is primarilyresponsible for inaccuracy or misalignment of the club head when theball is stroked.

With a View towards overcoming the foregoing objections, I provide agrip for a golf club, and particularly a putter, having a rotatable.section so positioned with respect to a rigid or non-ro tatable sectionas to permit the guiding hand (the right hand in the case of aright-handed player and the left hand in the case of a lefthandedplayer) to rotate or revolve around the shaft of the putter or clubduring stroking of the ball, and means are also provided whereby therotatable section may be accurately braked, or its freedom of rotationcontrolled or adjusted to obtain the most effective stroking action inaccordance with the individual using the club.

The primary object of the present invention therefore is to provide agrip for a golf club, and particularly a putter, which will materiallyimprove the accuracy of the putting stroke, and more specically, a golfcluby having a gripy provided with a rotatable section properlypositioned with respect to a non-rotatable or rigid grip and Jr.,Hagerstown, Md.

1938, Serial No. 214,332

der `control in accordance with requirements of individual exponents ofthe game.

Other objects include the provision of a club of the type specifiedwherein the parts are capa.- ble of manufacture and assembly at aminimum of cost and labor and which when assembled remain in properposition despite long and rigoroususe of the club.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent in View of the following description taken inconjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in substantially central longitudinal section of a golfclub handle or grip embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a putter having the grip of Fig. 1applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a broken fragmentary View in substantially centrallongitudinal section of the hano die or grip of Figs. 1 and 2 providedwith brake or friction regulation means;

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the handle of Fig. 3 with parts of thegrip and inner tubular members broken away to more clearly show thebrake or friction-adjusting means;

Fig. 5 is a View principally in central longitudinal section of lamodification in structure; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a still furthermodified type of grip or handle.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and rst to Figs. l and 2, the putteris provided with a main shaft 5 having lat the lower end thereof a clubhead 6, the shaft 5 being of the metal tubular type, although solidsteel or wood shaftsmay be used, and the improved handle or gripassembly lbeing connected to the upper end ofthe said shaft.

The handle or grip assembly as shown in Figs. 1 and `2, comprises acentral tubular handle shaft 'l which extends completely through thehandle and at its lower end is connected with the shaft 5 through themedium of a plug 8 having a reduced or ferrule portion 8a adapted tosocket into the lower end of the shaft 1. The grip or handle propercomprises fixed or non-rotatable sections S and Il) .and an intermediaterelatively rotatable section I I. The sections 9, I0 and Il in the eX-ample illustrated are of the molded type and may r be formed ofcomposition material, such as molded rubber or a phenolic resin or othercombination, and a method whereby the handle or grip may be manufacturedwith a minimum of time and labor and the parts assembled and held inposition with accuracy and permanency, is to first insert on the shaft adividing and bearing ring in the form of a collar I2 which may becomprised of fibrous material, metal or the like and is suitably fixedto the shaft. A tube I3 of suitable material, such as cold rolled steel,brass or analogous metal is then mounted on the shaft 'l and brought upsnugly against the collar I2. Another collar I4, which may be similar tothe collar I2, is then fixed to the shaft 1 at the opposite end of thetube I3, after which the grip or handle material is molded `as a unit onthe parts so assembled. The rotatable section is then severed from thesections 9 and I il. If desired, the collars I2 and |4 may be of adiameter equal to or substantially equal to the diameter of thecompleted grip or handle so that it may form a line of demarkation aswell as a bearing means between the respectivesections. These collars I2may also be colored in contra-distinction to the. color of the grips,and in short may be designed to improve the efficiency as well asvenhance the appearance of the club.

It will be obvious that this method of manufacture insures a high degreeof accuracyand at the same time promotes a structure which retains itsefficiency throughout the life of the club.

Vtured andV applied to the club at the time the latter is originallyassembled or produced, or it may be manufactured as a separate item andapplied to clubs already in use. If desired, the sections 9, I0 and maybe made of any desired material, foriexample, they may be made of woodand wrapped with leather, or they may be made of metal. The assemblyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, however, is as above noted, particularlyadapted for material capable of being molded.

The method of use or operation will be clearly apparent, the lefthandibeing used to grasp the fixed or non-rotatable section 9 while theright hand grasps therotatable section either in whole or in part inaccordance with the methods of use of the respective individuals orplayers using the club. With the right hand thus free to follow throughwithout any chance of misalignment of the club head with respect to theline of putt, maximum accuracy in the use of the putter is assured.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a grip wherein the rotatable section may bebraked or its frictional resistance to rotation accurately adjusted inaccordance with the requirements of the individual players. The xed andrelatively rotatable grips and tubular'members on which they are ,itedmovement through the medium of stud 2| projecting through a slot 22formed in the wall of the shaft 1a, note particularly Fig. 4( At anintermediate point, afixed bearing and brake anchor block 23 is mountedin the tube la. and anchored through the medium of a stud 24, the saidshaft |'I being provided with thrust bearing collars 25 and 26 onopposite sides of the block 23.

A longitudinal brake slot 21 is formed in a portion of the shaft 1a, anda friction or brake member in the form of a piece of spring steel 28 isadapted to have flexing or buckling movement in said slot, said brakemember being xed or anchored at its opposite ends to the blocks 2|! and23 respectively, with the intermediate portion of the brake or springbowed outwardly and adapted'to frictionally engage the tube |3a whichcarries the revoluble or rotatable vgrip section Ila. A cap 29 isinserted in the upper end of the handle tube 'Ia and the screw shaft I'|projects therethrough with the cap serving as a centering and bearingmember for the outer or upper end of the said shaft.

To adjust the friction resistance to rotation of the revoluble sectionIIa, it is only necessary to rotate the shaft Il, whereupon the block 2@is moved either upwardly or downwardly in the tube "la, therebyadjusting the brake 28 with respectto the revoluble section IIa orbacking the saine o-i therefrom.V With this assembly, a

fine degree of adjustment may-be conveniently obtained as desired.

,'Fig. 5 shows a rotatable section brake type golf club of simplifiedconstruction, the rotatable section being mounted between upper andlower interconnected non-rotatable sections with the parts constructedand arranged so that the central section may be braked by' simplyrotating the .upper or top section. In this instance, the top section isindicated at 3U and has connect.-

ed thereto, or formed as an integral part thereof,l a yscrew shaft 3|having its lower end screwthreaded as at 32 and projecting into a lowernon-rotatable section 33. The rotatable section, indicated `at 34, ismounted on the shaft 3| between the lowersection 33 and the uppersection 3U. It is preferred that the threaded eX- tremity'32 be given afairly tight threaded fit inthe lower section 33 so that when the uppersection isadjusted to frictionally clamp the rotatable section 34 in thedesired position between the vnon-rotatable sections, the section 30 andshaft 3| will berretained against rotation.

Fig.Y 6 illustrates a further type of rotatable section brake type gripassembly whereby the central rotatable section may be braked or its zfrictional resistance accurately adjusted in accordancewith requirementsof individual playing a bearing for a rotatable tubular member 3l whichvcarries a rotatable grip section 38, the

latter being mounted between' an upper non-rotatable grip 39 vand alower non-rotatable grip 40. v rThe grips 38, 39 and 4D haveY theircontiguous end faces beveled, forming extended-bearingsurfacestherebetween as indicated at 4| and 4|a. yTheupper grip section 39 ismounted on a ytubular member42 which at its upper end is peened overinto an annular recess 43 adjacent the upper end ofthe main handle shaft35. The inner Wall of the upper end of the shaft 35 is threaded andtherein is inserted an adjustable screw plug 44 having thereon a cap44a, the lat- ,ter carrying a ring portion which defines'the upperboundary of recess 43. By.v slightly rotating the cap 44a, therespective. bearing faces 4| and 4|@ are brought into therequiredfrictional relation. By beveling the contacting faces of therespective sections 38, 39 and 40, extended upper ends together.

bearing surfaces areprovided which promote a more efficient brakingaction.

In cases where my improved handle or grip is to be applied to a clubalready in use, I preferably pursue the following method of attachmentin order to insure a rugged and lasting connection between the grip andclub shaft:

The grip is laid parallel and adjacent the club to which the grip is tobe applied, keeping the The upper end of the club shaft 5 is then markedand nicked or ground circumferentially, permitting the shaft to beparted or broken on a true cross sectional diameter. 'Ihe `yferruleportion 8a, of the plug 8 is then inserted Vin the handle shaft 'I andtapped in until the shoulder 8b abuts against the lower end of saidlatter shaft. The opposite end of the plug may now be planed down andrendered smooth by filing or sanding while rotating the plug soy that anaccurate socket engagement between the plug and shaft 5 is provided. Theshaft 5 may then be indented with a center punch if desired and the clubis ready for use.

In the event of wooden shafts, the plug 8 may be dispensed with and theend of the shaft turned down or otherwise reduced to a point where apress fit is had with respect to the handle shaft 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a grip or handlefor golf clubs, particularly for putters and clubs used in the shortgame capable of carrying out the objects heretofore stated with amaximum of efficiency and wherein the parts are capable of long life andrigorous use without impairment of efficiency.

It will be understood that certain changes in structure and design maybe' adopted in my improved grip assembly without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as dei-ined by the appended claims.

40 I Claim.

1. A golf club having a handle comprised of upper and lower fixed ornon-rotatable sections and an intermediate rotatable section, a centraltubular shaft on which said sections are mounted, said shaft beingformed with an opening or slot therein, a brake member adapted formovement outwardly and inwardly through said slot, and an adjustingmember projecting into the center of said shaft from the upper end ofsaid handle and operatively connected to said brake member whereby thelatter may be projected through said slot and exert varying frictionalresistance on said rotatable section.

2. A golf club having a handle made up of upper and lower ornon-rotatable sections and an intermediate section which is rotatablewith respect to said first-named sections, a tubular shaft on which saidsections are mounted, said shaft being formed with an opening orlongitudinal slot therein, a braking member formed of spring steelpositioned in said shaft and adapted to be projected through said slot,means supporting said braking member whereby the latter may be ilexed orbowed outwardly and inwardly through said slot, and an adjusting rodprojected through the upper end of said shaft and operatively connectedto said supporting means.

3. A golf club having a, handle or grip made up of xed or non-rotatableupper and lower sections and an intermediate rotatable section, atubular shaft on which said sections are mounted, said shaft beingformed with a longitudinal slot therein, a brake member in the form of astrip of spring steel positioned in said shaft adjacent said slot,anchor blocks to which the opposite ends of said strip are secured, atleast 35 one of said blocks being mounted for longitudinal movement insaid shaft, and a threaded adjusting rod projected into the upper end ofsaid shaft and having its threaded end connected to said movable block.

` WILLIAM R. MOORE, JR.

